Cuba Belgium

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Belgium

Minimum Wage

€13.30 /hr

$15.49 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,886 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Belgium Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs Belgium

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 524 times lower than in Belgium in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $4,525/mo in Belgium, a 279.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.9%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Belgium's 5.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Belgium
Metric	Cuba	Belgium	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	€13.30 $15.49	-99.8%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	€2,189.81 $2,550.15	-99.8%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	€26,277.72 $30,601.75	-99.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	€3,886 /mo $4,525.45	-99.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	€2,450 /mo $2,853.15	-99.5%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	€33,000 /yr $38,430.19	-99.7%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cuba is higher.

Work Week

Cuba: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
Belgium: 38 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 38 hours (Labour Act). Daily maximum is 8 hours (9 hours with flexible schedules). Overtime requires authorization and must be compensated at 150% on weekdays and 200% on Sundays/public holidays. Compensatory time off is also required. EU Working Time Directive caps average at 48 hrs/week.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba Belgium Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	Belgium (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$1856/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$1893/hr
2022	—	$2103/hr
2023	—	$2277/hr
2024	—	$2322/hr
2025	—	$2364/hr
2026	—	$2550/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 52295% less per hour in USD terms than one in Belgium. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Belgium mandates 38 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $589 in Belgium.

See this comparison from Belgium's perspective: Belgium vs Cuba

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Belgium?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Belgium, it is €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD). Belgium has the higher rate by 52295% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Belgium?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to €3,886/mo ($4,525.45 USD) in Belgium. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 27805% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Belgium is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belgium earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Cuba and Belgium?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 38 hours in Belgium. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Belgium working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.